Fig-ii



March-25; 19,58

voriginal Filed April 15. 1952 R. E. SELTZER AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE AND A BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR K 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FIG-13 ROBERT E. SELTZER ATTORNEYS' R. E. SELTZER v AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE AND A March 25, 1958 BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR i Original Filed April 15, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. n.. n. l. Illillllll. h

wm by Nm INVENTOR.

R E.. n s Y s/E WM E. .6. O T m... E A R Mv/ v. `B

March 25, 1958 R. E. LTZER 2,827,925

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE AND A BANDING MEcHANisM THEREFOR original Filed April 15. i952 sheets-sheets Y. FIG-54 INVENToR. ROBERT E. SELTZER ATTORNEYS March25, 1958 R. E. sELTzER 2,827,926

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINEAND A l BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed April l5. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 25, 195,8 R. E. SELTZER 2,827,926

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE .AND A BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR v Original Filed April 15, 1952 l6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. BY ROBERT E. slgzsn ATTORNEYS March 25, 1958 R. E. sELTzER 2,827,926

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE AND A BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed April 15. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG-2 "8` INVENToR.` '3 Q rfc; ROBERT E. sELTzER A I, .Ow |32 'i' /f /aqnwu lawnm.,

f 13 ATTORNEYS `AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE AND A 'BANDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Robert E.Seltzer, Bellevue, Ohio, assignor to The Ameri- This application 'relates to `automatic `baling machines, particularlyfto a bandingmechanism therefor, and is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 282,429, `tiled-April 15, 1952,=now Patent No. 2,768,574.

In the coepending application referred to vabove rI show `a full automatic baling machine particularly adapted for industrial use in the baling of wastes and the like, and in `which the materalto bebaled is delivered to a compression chamber 'from-a chute or hopper and is pushed from `the compression 4chamber into a `baling chamber where it `ispressed into the'formof abale during its travel therethrough, and with anautomatic banding mechanism being provided which automatically passes wires about the bales when they reach a predetermined size and `twists the ends ofthe wires together.

Thepresent `application deals in particular with the` novel mechanism associated `with; such a baling machine,

`bymeans ofwhich lthe ends ofthe wires are twisted vtogether and cut olf during the automatic and continuing cycling ofthe baling machine.

Apr'mary object of the present invention is the provision of a novel arrangementfor effecting the cutting ofi and thetwisting together of a banding wire fora bale such as is produced in the type of baling machinereferred to.

Another object of this .invention is the provision of a twisting and cutoi unit 4for. banding wire of a bale which prevents any raw edges of the cutoff wire from protruding from the bale.

A still further object is the provision of a twister -head and cutoff unit for twisting together and cutting oit the banding wire -of a bale which can be associated with like units to perform twisting and cutoi operationson a plurality of wires at one time.

`Another particular object ofthe present invention is the provision of a twister head and cutoif unit for twisting togetherand cutting olf the banding wire of Va bale in which the wire is tightly twisted together, Abut .isprevented from sticking on the twisterlhead.

Still another particulariobject is theprovision of a wire cutoi and twistervhead of .the nature referred to which is rapid in operation, thus requiringa small amount of time Afor accomplishing the cutoi and twisting operation whereby the 4cycling of the `baler is interrupted `to only-a small degree.

.A still further object is the provision of ra 'cutoff and twister unit .of the nature referred to which will `be relatively simple to construct and which is basically strong thereby requiring `the Vminimum amount of service Yand .being `adapted `for remaining inoperative condition for ia vlong period of time.

These and other objects and .advantages -of this invention will become more `apparent upon reference `-to the rfollowing specification ,taken -in ..connectionvwith the .accompanyingrdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an :automatic ibaling machine ,embodying a wire twisting and cutot unit according to this invention;

United States Patent A Figure `2 is a vertical section indicated by cutting plane `2--2 on Figure 1 and showing the twister and cutoff unit in vertical section;

`Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the unitlooking up from beneath as indicated by the arrow 3 on Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan view looking down on top ofthe twister and cutoff unit as it is seen in Figure 2, but with the top cover thereof removed;

Figure 5 is a sectional view indicated by line 5 5 on -Figure 4 showing in some detail the construction and arrangement of the parts of one section of the twister and cutoii unit;

Figure 6 is a sectional view indicated byline 6-'-6 on Figure 4 showing apin and slot arrangement for guiding one of the elements of the twister portion of the unit,r st lthe rreciprocatory movement and then the rotary movement;

Figure 7 is a section indicated by line 7-7 on Figure-6 showing another portion of the mechanism of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view indicated by line 8--8 fon Figure 4 showing still another lportion of the said mechanism;

Figure 9 is a sectional view indicated by line 9-9 on VFigure 4 illustrating the rotary cutoi mechanism forming a part of theunit;

Figure 10 is a view looking in at the side edge of the rotary cutotfunitillustrated in Figure 9;

`Figure 11 is a `sectional view indicated by line -11--11 on Figure 4 showing the actuating cam that cooperates with t-he rotary cutoif head;

`Figure l2 is .a sectional view taken through the rotary cutoff head as indicated by line 12-12 on Figure 9 showing the cutoff head in position relative to the actuating cam of Figure 11 for gripping a wire that is to be Icut Off; t

Figure 13 is a sectional view like Figure 12 but shows the cutoff head in position vrelative to 'the cam for releasing the wire;

Figure 14 is a side View showing the construction Zof the slotted outer end of the twister rod of the unit;

Figure 15 is aplan view of the slotted end of the twister rod;

Figure 16 is an end View looking in at the slotted end of the twister rod;

Figure 17` is a plan sectional view somewhat diagrammatic and generally indicated by line 17--17 von Figure '1 showing the position of the parts of the machine at the initiation of a baling cycle with the wire thrust across -at the back end of the bale;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure `117 but showing the twister and cutoi unit advanced to .receive the banding wire inthe slotat the 'end of theftwister rod;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view showing the 4position occupied by the rotary cutoff head relative to the banding wire when the twister and cutol unit is in its Figure 18 position;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view showing -how the banding wire is received in theslotted end when the twister and cutoff unit is in its Figure 18 position;

Figure 2l is a fragmentary View similar to Figures 1'7 and 18, but showing the banding wire twisted on the end of the twister rod;

Figure 22 is an enlarged view showing the appearance of `the wire after it has been twisted by the twister lrod;

Figure .23 Ais a `'fragmentary view showing the rotary cutoff head in the position it occupies justas the wire Figure 24 is la fragmentary view similar to Figures 17, 18 and 21, but showing the mechanism at the time the wire is tucked into the corner of the bale; and

'assenze f y Y 1 Figure 25 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing more in detail the tuclting in of the ends of the cutoi banding wire.

The general arrangement of a baling machine adapted for having incorporated therewith a wire twisting and cutoif arrangement according to the present invent1on l is illustrated in Figure 1, wherein a hopper or chute I-l supplies material to be baled to a compression chamber C whence it is pressed by the ram or baling head R into vincludes a wheel that bears on the bales being made so as to be turned thereby and which serves automatically to initiate a banding operation when the bale reaches a predetermined length, and which banding operatlon consists of thrusting banding wires across the back of the bale and twisting them together at one corner of the bale, cutting the wires olf, and tucking the raw ends of the wires into the corner of the bale.

In the arrangement illustrated the banding wires for the bales are indicated at W, and it will be seen that there are three in number. A greater or lesser number of banding wires could be provided depending upon the in dividual circumstances, such as the type of waste for the material being baled, the size of the bales, and various other factors.

The unit indicated at T in Figure 1, and which is the twising and cutoff unit, comprises a frame that is movably supported on the adjacent side wall of compression chamber C as by the track means 12 on the said chamber and the roller means 14 carried by the unit T. This arrangement is provided so the unit Tcan be moved longitudinally of the compression chamber into operative position to engage the banding wires of the bale at the back corner thereof for a twisting and cutting o cycle, and can then be retracted from the said position during continued operation of the baling machine while another bale is being built up. In Figure l, thepoint where the wires are thrust across at the back of the bale to be engaged by the twister unit and twisted thereby, is indicated by the heavy dot-dash line 16.

By way of a brief description of an operative cycle reference may be had to Figures 17, 18, 2l and 24.`

In Figure 17, which is a plan section through a bale at the level of one of the banding wires, it will be seen that a needle 18 has been thrust across the back ofthe bale 20 carrying the banding wire W across the back of the bale in the form of a loop, t'ne one end of the wire W'being fastened to a portion of the twister unit and the other end thereof extending to the reel of wire 22 positioned on vthe opposite side of the baling machine from the twister unit.

In Figure 18 the twister unit has advanced longitudinally of the baling machine and has engaged the wire W at the point where it crosses at the back corner of the bale. i

In Figure 2l the twister unit has operated to sever the wire and to grip the end thereof that leads directly to the reel 22 while simultaneously the two ends of the banding wire passing around the bale have been twisted together. Y

InV Figure 24 the twister unit is illustrated in the operation of tucking in to the corner of the bale the cut off ends so that no wire ends project from the bale. Thereafter the twister unit will retract and then the needle will retract and operation of the baling machine will be resumed. A

With reference now to the particular construction of the twisting and cutot unit, reference may first be had to Figures 2 through 8.

In Figure 2, which is a vertical section taken through the twister unit T, as indicatedron Figure 1, will be observed that frame 1t) ofthe unit comprises a plurality of superimposed sub-frames 30 which may be interconnected as by the corner clips 32. This arrangement permits the stacking of the individual twister units to provide for as many thereof as may be needed in any particular circumstance.

Each sub-unit of the twister unit comprises, in addition to the sub-frame unit 3d, a twister rod 34 having slot 36 in its outer end, which slot is adapted for receiving the crossed ends of the banding wire with the rod being rotatable for twisting the said ends together.

Reciprocably and rotatably mounted about each twister rod 34 is a tucker sleeve 38 having an end portion 40 with a notch 42. rThe tucker sleeve is for the purpose of stripping the wire from the twister rodand for tucking the raw ends thereof into the lcorner of the bale.

The actuating mechanism for rotating the twister rod and reciprocating androtating the tucker sleeve will be seen in Figures 4' through 8 taken in connection with Figure 2.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be noted that twister rod 34 is rotatably supported by bearings 44 and 46 in tucker sleeve 38, and also in a bearing 48 that is mounted in a sleeve 50 that is rigid with a plate 52 that extends beyond and is rigidly connected with the side walls of the pertaining sub-frame unit 30, as will best be seen in Figure 4.

Rod 34 has keyed thereto a spur gear 54 that meshes with an idler gear 56 (Figures 2 and 4) that is supported by plate 52, while an idler gear 57, also supported by plate 52, meshes with idler-.gear56 and with a gear 58 pinned to a shaft 60. Shaft 60is journalled in a bearing 62 carried by sleeve 64 mounted in wall 52 and also by a bearing 66 mounted in sleeve 68-that is rigid with the front wall of the pertaining sub-frame 30.

Shaft 60, at its rear end, carries a bevel gear 70 which is engaged and driven by another bevel gear as will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

Rotatably mounted about tucker sleeve 38 is a. cutott and gripper head 72 which is supported on the tucker sleeve 38 by the bearings 74, and is also supported by .the bearings 76 within a sleeve 78.1'igid with the front wall of the pertaining sub-frame 30.

Sleeve 78 .also carries a stationary cam 80 that cooperates with the cuto and gripper head in a manner to be described hereinafter. v

Within sub-frame 30 Vthe cutoff and' gripper head 72 carries a gear 82 which meshes with a. gear 84 pinned to shaft 60.

At this point it will be evident that rotation of bevel gear 70 will cause rotation ofshaft 60 which, in turn,

, will drive through gears 58, 57, 56 and 54 into twister rod 34 to rotate the latter,rand through gears 84 and 82 into the cutoi and gripper head 72 to `also rotate this element. It also will be evident-that the twister rod will rotate at greater speed than the cutoff and gripper head and in an opposite direction. Specifically, the twister rod rotates an even multiple of the number of revolutions of the gripper head so that for each 1870?` of revolution of the gripper head, the twister rod returns to its starting position.- L

Turning now to the tucker sleeve 38, this element between gears 54 and 82 is form-ed as at86 with a worm thread which is in mesh with a helical gear 88 xed to the vertically extending shaft 90. A

The tucker sleeve 38 is adapted for being driven in reciprocation and rotation by gear 8,8, and this is accomplished in an arrangementbest seen vin Figures 4 Y through 8.

In Figures `4 .and 6 it will be observed that mounted `on one of the side walls of u'the pertaining sub-frame `3,0

`rotation of helical gear 8 8 the tucker sleeve 38 will first be driven in reciprocation because of the engagement of head 98 with rod 96 and with slot 92, and when the said head reaches the front end of slot 92 the tucker sleeve will commence to rotate and the head 98 will then travel in Icircumferential slot 94. Upon reversing the direction of rotation of -helical gearSS the opposite series of events will occur and the `tucker sleeve will first rotate vback to its original angular position `and will then reciprocate Aback `to its original axial position.

It has been mentioned previously that the twister unit T, as illustrated in Figure 1, consists of a ,plurality `of stacked sub-units, and reference to Figure 2 will illus- `trate how the `sub-units are drivingly interconnected after being stacked. The shafts 99 of the several sub-units which carry the helical gears 88 are drivingly connected by the couplings 100, and the lowermost one of shafts 90 is coupled with a shaft 102 journalled in and extending down through the bottom wall of the lowest one of the said subunits It has also previously been mentioned that the` bevel gears 70 are drivingly engaged by suitable gears, and this arrangement is `also illustrated in Figure 2 wherein vit `will-be seen that each `of the bevel gears 70 is engaged bya crown gear 104, with each crown gear being carried by a shaft 106 journalled on the pertaining sub-unit by a bearing 108. The several shafts 106 Yare detachably drivingly Vinterconnected by the couplings 110 and the lowermost shaft 106 is coupled by the'coupling .110 with shaft 112 extending through and journalled in the bottom wall of the lowermost sub-unit.

The actuating means `for driving the `106 will be seen in Figures 2 and 3. In these views there will be seen thehydraulic cylinder 114 in Vwhich is reciprocably mounted. a double-acting ram including a plunger 116 connected at `118 to a plate 120 which is rotatable on the lower end of shaft 112. Plate 120 has pivoted thereto at 122 a pawl 124 adapted for engagement with notches 126 in the periphery of ratchet plate 128 that is secured to the lower end of shaft 112. The pawl 124 is spring urged against the periphery `of ratchet plate 128 by spring 130 and the notches 126 are so shaped that when the plate 120 rotates in a clockwise direction,`

as it is viewed in Figure 3, the pawl will drive the ratchet plate 128, but when the plate 120 is driven in the opposite direction the pawl will cam out of the notch with which it is engaged and return idly. f

For .reasons which will become apparent hereinafter, after ratchet plate 128 has been actuated by a clockwise movement of plate 120, it is desired to obtain a small amount of reverse movement of the said ratchet plate. For this purpose there is mounted adjacent the periphery of the ratchet plate a member 132 having a nose 134 which will engage the back surface of pawl 124 before it has completed its driving movement during clockwise travel of plate 120. Then, when plate 120 is reversed to move in a counterclockwise direction, nose 134 of member 132 will retain pawl `124 engaged with ratchet plate 128 until the said pawl passes from beneath nose 134, whereupon the pawl will then cam out of the notch with which it is-engaged and return idly to its Figure 3 position.

The gearing between `shaft 106 and ,the gripper heads is such that the Igripper heads are turned `slightly more 4o shafts ,90 and than 180 during the said clockwise movement of plate .120, :and the` shaft and arc then backed up slightly when .the plate makes its slight counterclockwise move- Vtion of the tucker sleeve is obtained by providing plate 120 with a slot 140 in which there is a pin 142 connected to a bar 144 that carries a rack or reciprocable member 146 meshing with a gear 148 on the lower end of shaft 102. It will be apparent that upon rotation of plate 120 in a clockwise direction from its Figure 3 position the said plate will rotate through a substantial angle before bar i144 will commence to move relative to gear 14S, `and that, accordingly, the twister rod 34 will have rotated a predetermined amount before the tucker sleeve commences to operate.

Turning now to the cuto and gripper head '72, this `portion of Vthe mechanism will best be seen in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 9 through 13.

The front face of cuto andtgripper head 72 is bevelled at the periphery and mounted at diagrammatically opposite points on the cutoff and gripper head on the said bevel or the gripper blocks 150, each of which has a projecting nose 152, as can be seen in Figures 9 and 11 through 13. Each `said nose portion has a recess 154 therein, and reciprocably mounted in the cutoff `and gripper head directly opposite the said recess is a pin 156 biased away from the said recess by spring 158. The ends of pins 156 opposite the recess 154 bear on the stationary cam 80, which consists of a lower portion 169 and a raised portion 162. When the pins are riding along the lower portion 160 of cam S0, the pins are spaced a substantial distance from their pertaining recesses, but when `the pins are riding on the high part of raised portion 162of the cam they are urged toward their pertaining recesses so as to crimp and grip a wire therein.

In Figure 13 a pin is shown riding on the lower portion 160 of cam `80 with the wire W crimped into the recess but not held therein by the pin 156, Whereas in Figure 12 the said pin is shown riding on the -high part 162 of the cam 80, and in this position the wire W is gripped by said pin.

Carried on the `back surface of the cutoff head adjacent each of the blocks is a shearing blade 164, each of which is adapted for cooperation with a stationary shearing biade 166 (Figure 2) so that as the cutoff and gripper head rotates a wire that is extending through the notched shearing blade 164 adjacent the stationary shearing blade will be sheared off by the said shearing blade.

The notched end of the twister rod 34 is advantageously formed,as is illustrated in some detail in Figures 14, 15 and 16, wherein it will be seen that the twister rod has a V shaped transverse recess 171i therein, and is then `drilled axially as illustrated at 172. The end of the rod is then milled lengthwise on opposite sides of the `drilled hole with parallel slots that are also on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the rod as is illustrated at 174. At the bottom of this last-mentioned milled slot a V shaped configuration is formed inwardly of the axis of the said rod and inclinedeangularly about 45 toward the outer end thereof. These drilled portions are indicated at 176. The arrangement is such that when a pair of crossed wires is received in the notched end of the twister rod and the twister rod then rotated for twisting the wires together, the enlarged central part of the notched end of the rod receives the twisted together part of the wires, while the undercut portions at 176 tend to receive and retain the vprojecting ends of the wires. The wires thus have little tendency to slip out of the notch at the end of the twisting rod when the twisting has been coin- Inenced.

Operation To describe the operation of the device of this invention,'letV it be assumed that the machine is in the condition illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 17, wherein the wire W is gripped by the cutoif and gripper head 72 and then passes over the notched end of the twister` rod 34 down along the-side of the bale 20 across the front end thereof and then back along Vthe opposite side of the bale. The wire, immediately prior to the-machine coming to its Figure 17 position, was thrust across the back of the bale by the needle 18 which was actuated in response to the measuring disk or wheel Within the measuring mechanism N (Fig. l) having determined that the bale was of the proper length and bringing about the halting of thebaling head R in its advanced position and the actuation of the needle to its Figure 17 position.

After needle 18 has been thrust across to its Figure 17- position, the twister unit advances longitudinally of the baling machine so that the notched end of the twister rod 34 engages that reach of wire W which is passing across the back of the bale as indicated in Figure 18. Simultaneously, the cutoff and gripper head 72 has moved into position where the block 150 thereon, opposite the one which is visible in Figures 17 and 18, is positioned immediately above the reach of the wire W that goes across the backof the bale and to the reel 22. This is illustrated in Figure 19, and it will beapparent that when the cuto and gripper head rotates the Wire will be picked up by the block 150 and the cutoff blade 164.

The relative positions occupied by the parts of the wire that are to be twisted together within notch 36 is illustrated in Figure 20.

With the twister unit now in position the motor, consisting of cylinder 114 and the double-acting ram therein to which rod 116 is connected, is energized to rotate plate 120 in a clockwise direction as it is viewed in Figure 3. This movement of plate 26 will cause rotation of the cutoff and twister heads in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon in the several views whereby the reach of wire W leading to reel 22 will be picked up and gripped thereby and sheared off by shearing blade 166.

Simultaneously, the twister rod 34 will be driven in rotation in the opposite direction to bring about twisting together of the ends of the wire W that are deposited in the notch 36, as illustrated in Figures 18 and 20. Shortly after the twisting of the wires commences the end thereof gripped by the gripper head in Figures 17 and 18 will be released therefrom, but, inasmuch as the wire is already twisted this will not cause any loosening of the band passing around the bale.

The appearance of the wire when it is substantially completely'twisted is ilustrated in Figures 21 and 22.

In Figure 22, in particular, it will be noted that the cutolf ends of the wire that has been twisted are extended through the notch 42 in the nose 45B of the tuckerV sleeve 38. rl`his fact is availed of for tucking the raw ends of the wire into the corner of the bale by'thrusting the tucker sleeve forwardly and then causing it to rotate. This comes about because toward the end of the twisting operation, the bar 144 will commence to movelwith plate 120 and drive shaft 102 and shafts 90 tojcraurse irst reciprocation and then rotation of the severaltucker sleeves 38 in the manner described which will bring the said tucker sleeves to the position illustrated in Figure 24.

As will be seen in Figure 25, the tucker sleeve at this time has tucked the raw ends of the wire into the corner of the bale. The total amount of rotation of the gripper heads is slightly greater than 180 and that of the twister rods some even multiple thereof.

At this time the energization of the hydraulic actuating motor for` the twister unit is reversed, which -will cause a small amount of reverse rotation of the shaft 106 due to the action of nose 1340i member 132 in retaining pawl i241V in engagement with ratchet plate 128 fora short time. This causes the gripper heads to turn back to aV point just 180 from their starting points. This will also provide for a small amount of reverse movement of the vtwister rods which will insure that they will all release from the wires with which they are associated so that after the actuating motor for the twister unit has fully retracted, thus returning the tucker sleeves to their original positions, the entire twister unit can be retracted to its Figure l position alongthe side of the baler and all of the twister rods will be released from their pertaining twisted wires.

At this time the wire W extends from a gripped position on the cutoif and gripper head across the face of baling head R to reel 22, so that, after the baling head is again set into operation, the lbale built up thereby will push the wire ahead of it so that the wire will once again be engaged by the notch at the end of the twister rod and pass along one side of the bale, then across the front thereof, and then along the other side thereof and across the end of the pertaining needle and back to reel 22.

It will be understood that the initiation of the banding cycle, including the operation of the twister and cutoff unit, could be initiated automatically in response to the building up ofa bale of a predetermined size in the machine. The particular mechanism by which this automaticity of operation is obtained is more fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 282,429, tiled April 15, 1952, now Patent No. 2,768,574 of which the persent application is a division.`

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

VI claim:

l. In a twisting and tucking unit of the nature described; a twister rod having a slot at one end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a tucker sleeve surrounding said rod and having a noseportion with a lateral notch positioned so that rotation of said rod to twist the crossed wires together will cause the ends of the wires to be engaged by the notch in the end of the sleeve, means for rotating said rod in one direction, means for reciprocating said sleeve on said rod and rotating the said sleeve on the rod to tuck the ends of the wires inside the twisted together portion thereof, means for retracting said sleeve, and means for turning said rod a small amount in the opposite direction to loosen the twisted wires therefrom.

2. In a twisting and tucking arrangement of the nature described; a rotatable twister rod having a slotted end to receive crossed wires `to be twisted, a tucker sleeve rotatably and reciprocablymounted about said rod and comprising a nose portion with a lateral notch to engage the end portions of the wires being twisted by said rod, means for rotating said rod in one direction to effect the twisting together of the wires in the slotted end thereof, and said means also being operable for reciprocating said sleeve on said rod and for rotating said sleeve in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the said rod for tucking the said end portion of the wires inside the twisted together portion thereof, said means also being operable for retracting said sleeve to its initial position while simultaneously turning said rod to a small angle in the said opposite direction to loosen the wires therefrom.

3. In a twisting and tucking unit of the nature described; a rotatable twister rod having a slotted end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a tucker sleeve rotatable and reciprocable on said rod having a nose portion ecited end ,portions said rod and for then rotating said sleeve on said rod,

and motor means connected with said shafts operable for driving first only said first shaft in its said one direction, and then for driving said shafts together in said one direction, and then for causing a small amount of reverse rotation of said first shaft and returning said second shaft to its original position.

4. In a twister unit of the nature described; a twister rod having a slotted end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a tucker sleeve rotatably and reciprocably mounted about said rod having a nose portion with a lateral notch to receive the projecting end portions of the wires being twisted, 'a gripper head rotatably mounted about said sleeve and rod and having means for gripping a wire, stationary cam means for actuating said gripping means during rotation of said gripper head, means for simultaneously rotating said rod and said gripper head, means operable after a predetermined amount of rotary movement of said gripper head and rod for first reciprocating and then rotating said tucker sleeve on said rod, and means for retracting said tucker sleeve to its original position.

5. In a twister unit of the nature described; a twister rod having a slotted end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a tucker sleeve rotatably and reciprocably mounted about said rod having a nose portion with a lateral notch to receive the projecting end portions of the wires being twisted, a gripper head rotatably mounted about said sleeve and rod and having means for gripping a wire, stationary cam means for actuating said gripping means during rotation of said gripper head, means for simultaneously rotating said rod and said gripper head, means operable after a predetermined amount of rotary movement of said gripper head and rod for first reciprocating and then rotating said tucker sleeve on said rodand means for retracting said tucker sleeve to its original position, said means for rotating said gripper head and twister rod being operable to rotate said gripper head through an angle of slightly more than 180 while rotating said rod through an angle that is a multiple of the angle through which the gripper head is moved, and said means also being operable for retracting said gripper head the amount of rotation that has been rotated in excess of 180.

6. In a twister unit of the nature described; a twister rod having an axially slotted end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a gripper and cutoff head rotatably mounted about said rod, said cutoff head having diametrically opposite grippers thereon ladapted for gripping a wire to be twisted together with another wire and having a rest position where one of the gripper means is in actuated position and the other thereof is in idle position, means gearing said gripper head and rod together so that the rod will rotate a multiple of half-revolutions while the gripper head rotates one half-revolution, means for driving said gripper head and rod in rotation so the gripper head makes slightly more than one half-revolution during a twisting cycle, and means for retracting said gripperhead together with said rod an amount equal to the overtravel of said gripper head beyond 180.

7. In a twister unit of the nature described; a twister rod having an axially slotted end to receive crossed wires to be twisted, a gripper and cutoff head rotatably mounted about said rod, said cutoff head having diametrically opposite grippers thereon adapted for gripping a wire to be twisted together with another wire and having a rest position where one of the gripper means is in actuated posil *10N ,tionjand theotherth'ereof islin idlejposition, means gear'- ing "sa'itl,gripperfhead and rod togetherso that the rod jwill rotate a multiple of half-revolutions while the gripper head rotates one,fh,alf-revolution, means for driving lsaid gripper hea'dand rod in rotation so the gripper head makes slightly more thanone halt-revolution during a twisting cycle, and means for retracting said gripperhead together with said rod Van vamount `equal lto the overtravel of said gripper head` fbeyond 18.0 9 ,Saiddiivingmeans 4comprising a ratchet plate, a driving member, a pawl on the driving member engageable with the notches on said ratchet plate operable for positively driving said ratchet plate in one direction, and stationary cam means engageable with said' pawl as it approaches the end of its movement in the driving direction thereof for retaining said pawl in engagement with the pertaining notch of the ratchet plate so that upon reverse movement of said drive member the ratchet plate will be driven in the reverse direction until the said pawl is released from said cam member.

8. In a twister unit of the nature described; a frame, a twister rod rotatable in the frame having a slotted end, a cutoff and gripper member rotatable in the frame on the axis of the rod, said member having a pair of diametrically opposite cam operated wire grippers and one element of a wire cutoff adjacent each gripper, a cam stationary on the frame for actuating said grippers when the member rotates, another element of said cutoff being fixed on the frame to cooperate with the said one elements thereof upon rotation of the member, and means gearing the rod and member together so that the rod makes a plurality of half-revolutions for one half-revolution of the member.

9. In a twister unitof the nature described; a frame, a twister rod rotatable in the frame having a slotted end, a cutoff and gripper member rotatable in the frame on the axis of the rod, said member having a pair of diametrically opposite cam operated wire grippers and one element of a wire cutoff adjacent each gripper, a cam stationary on the frame for actuating said grippers when the member rotates, another element of said cutoff being fixed on the frame to cooperate with the said one elements thereof upon rotation of the member, and means gearing the rod and member together so that the rod makes a plurality of half-revolutions for one half-revolution of the member, said cam being arranged so the one gripper next to pass the fixed cutoff element is open to receive wire while the other gripper is closed, and upon initiation of rotation of the member the said one gripper is closed by the cam and the other is released.

10. In a twister unit of the nature described; a frame, a twister rod rotatable in the frame having a slotted end, a cutoff and gripper member rotatable in the frame on the axis of the rod, said member having a pair of diametrically opposite cam operated wire grippers and one element of a wire cutoff adjacent each gripper, a cam stationary on the frame for actuating said grippers when the member rotates, another element of said cutoif being fixed on the frame to cooperate with the said one elements thereof upon rotation of the member, and means gearing the rod and member together so that the rod makes a plurality of half-revolutions for one half-revolution of the member, said cam being arranged so the one gripper next to pass the xed cutoff element is open to receive wire while the other gripper is closed, and upon initiation of rotation of the member the said one gripper is closed by the cam and the other is released, said grippers remaining in their last mentioned positions during the remainder of the half-revolution of said member.

11. In a twister unit; a frame, a twister rod rotatable in the frame having a slotted end, a sleeve reciprocable and rotatable on the rod having a projecting part with a lateral notch positioned to engage the ends of wires twisted by rotation of said rod, a helical gear portion on the sleeve and a helical drive gear meshing therewith, a guide member projecting from the gear portion, means defining a slot comprising a portion axial of said sleeve and a portion il circumferential ofV saidr sleeve receiving said member whereby rotation of s'aid drive garrst reciproeates the sleeve and then rotates the sleeve, mearisfor rotating said rod, and means .operable after affpfedeterx'niiledY angular movement Yof the rod to rotate said drive gear.V 5

ReferencesCited in the file of this pterltr-` 'Y j UNITED STATES PATENTVSy 989,020Y Ljunglof.- Apr. 11, 1911 10 12 YSchubertv -..7---- June 6, 1911 Dudley Feb. 26, 1918 Belt Ian. 16,.v 1945 Kunkle et al June l5, 1948 Leevet a1. Dec. 27, 1949 Burford May 8, 1951 Altgelt Apr. 17, 1956 

